When Textron acquired family-owned Slovenian sustainable aviation pioneer Pipistrel in 2022, the U.S. group significantly expanded involvement in new propulsion technology and laid the foundation for its eAviation business unit. Pipistrel’s enterprising engineering team is now contributing to all sorts of projects, ranging from Textron’s in-development Nexus eVTOL aircraft to European Union-backed work to develop a megawatt-class electric propulsion system for new airliners.

In September 2023, Pipistrel provided a repurposed example of its Taurus 4G aircraft to serve as a flying testbed for a liquid hydrogen powertrain developed by German start-up H2Fly. The flight in Slovenia was part of the EU’s Project Heaven work to assess the feasibility of hydrogen-powered airlines in achieving a quantum leap towards decarbonizing air transport. Joby, which owns H2Fly, has indicated that it may integrate a hydrogen-electric powertrain into its four-passenger eVTOL vehicle at some later date.

Through its involvement in other Europe-based projects Newborn and Hypotrade, Pipistrel has worked alongside partners including Honeywell on hydrogen fuel cell-based powertrains. Project Hypotrade calls for ground tests of a distributed propulsion system to start in 2025. For the Newborn project, Pipistrel will lead the development and integration of a ground-based demonstrator, also using its battery technology, for a ground-test campaign.

In the near term, Pipistrel’s focus is on completing type certification of its Panthera four-seat piston single that will run on avgas or unleaded fuels. Pipistrel’s president, Gabriel Massey, told AIN that it still has ambitions to introduce a hybrid-electric version of the aircraft.

Balance between Demand and Resources

“We’ve flown hybrid [propulsion systems] and the technology is there, but the regulatory side is a challenge,” he explained. “People are curious about a hybrid version of a higher-performance four-seat aircraft like this, but it’s a balance between [development] resources and demand.”

Meanwhile, Pipistrel’s Velis Electro all-electric two-seat training aircraft is gaining traction on both sides of the Atlantic. Having been certified by Europe’s EASA in 2020, it subsequently earned an FAA airworthiness exemption allowing it to be operated in the light-sport aircraft category for pilot training in the U.S.

“Flight schools are proving that it is a better option in terms of cost, noise, simplicity, and maintenance, but there is also curiosity about demonstrating [environmental] sustainability too,” Massey said.

Making use of the same electric motor and batteries as those on the Velis Electro, Pipistrel is getting closer to starting test flights with the first member of its Nuuva family of cargo drones. The V300 prototype is being assembled now and is expected to take to the air in early 2025 at the company’s facility in northern Italy. The drone is projected to deliver a range of almost 165 nm and a payload of around 660 pounds.

This article was updated on January 14 to clarify Pipistrel's role in the Newborn project.